Alpha
Boy name · #2078 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Alpha? In official American birth records, Alpha has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 71 baby boys were named Alpha, placing it at #2078 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2766, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 boys born in 2025 was named Alpha.
Babies named Alpha per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Alpha first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 75 babies and a rank of #2028. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alpha against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alpha in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alpha is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alpha will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alpha is most common
State-level data for Alpha is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Alpha
Statistically, parents drawn to Alpha tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Simcha, Talha, Akiva, Armin, and Ahron.
SimchaTalhaAkivaArminAhronAyoubAmeenAkram
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alpha | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2077 |
| 2024 | 75 | #2028 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 61 | #2325 |
| 2021 | 49 | #2623 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2113 |
| 2019 | 67 | #2129 |
| 2018 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2017 | 52 | #2450 |
| 2016 | 61 | #2207 |
| 2015 | 43 | #2766 |
| 2014 | 43 | #2754 |
| 2013 | 41 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3002 |
| 2011 | 33 | #3306 |
| 2010 | 44 | #2730 |
| 2009 | 50 | #2528 |
| 2008 | 50 | #2515 |
| 2007 | 46 | #2643 |
| 2006 | 51 | #2398 |
| 2005 | 41 | #2653 |
| 2004 | 32 | #3074 |
| 2003 | 40 | #2545 |
| 2002 | 38 | #2556 |
| 2001 | 39 | #2489 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alpha?
In official American birth records, the name Alpha first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alpha a popular boy name?
Alpha ranked #2078 among boys in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2766.
When was the name Alpha most popular?
Alpha peaked in 2024, when 75 American boys received the name (ranked #2028 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Alpha?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American boys was named Alpha. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.